Chalk line holder

ABSTRACT

A chalk line holder comprises a housing having a partition dividing the housing into two compartments. Each of a pair of substantially coaxially mounted spools is rotatably mounted in a corresponding one of the compartments. A chalk line of a first desired color is wound on one of the spools and a chalk line of a second desired color is wound on the other spool. Coupling devices are provided in the spools for selectively coupling a shaft for rotating the spools to a desired one of the spools for separate rotation. A handle outside the housing is coupled to the shaft for manually rotating the spools.

United States Patent Couch et al.

[451 July 29,1975

[541 CHALK LINE HOLDER 1,581,289 4/1926 Prihoda 242/107.13

[75] Inventors: Cecil Couch; Wayne Hix, both of Prima y Examiner Stanley N Gflreath Macon, Ga. r

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dan1el Jay Tlck [73] Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization,

Inc.. New York. N.Y.: apart interest 57 ABSTRACT A chalk line holder comprises a housing having a par- [22] Flled 1973 tition dividing the housing into two compartments. [21] PP 403,553 Each of a pair of substantially coaxially mounted spools is rotatably mounted in a corresponding one of [52] U S Cl 242/100J the compartments. A chalk line of a first desired color [51] In} .Cl "mash 75/34 is wound on one of the Spools and a chalk line of a [58] Fie'ld I04 106 second desired color is wound on the other spool.

1 Coupling devices are provided in the spools for selectively coupling a shaft for rotating the spools to a de- [56] References Cited sired one of the spools for separate rotation. A handle P T outside the housing is coupled to the shaft for manu- UNITED STATES ATEN s ally rotating the spools. 493,446 3/1893 Protzman 242/1001 554,245 2/1896 Dempsey 242/1001 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures 926,576 6/]909 Kneisley 242/l00.l

L 4 Z. I

I T c! 2 /3 /8 PATENTEDJULZQISTS 3, 897; 023

FIG. I

CHALK LINE HOLDER DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a chalk line holder.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a chalk line holder of simple structure which provides two chalk lines of different color separately with facility, ease, convenience and simplicity.

In order that the invention may be readily carried into effect, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view, partly in section, of an embodiment of the chalk line holder of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view, partly in section, taken along the lines 22, of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view, partly in section, taken along the lines 33, of FIG. 1.

The chalk line holder of the invention comprises a housing 1 having a partition 2 dividing the housing into two compartments 3 and 4 (FIG. 1). A pair of substantially coaxially mounted spools 5 and 6 are rotatably mounted in the housing 1 (FIG. 1). The spool 5 is mounted in the compartment 3 and the spool 6 is mounted in the compartment 4.

A chalk line 7 of a first desired color is wound on the spool 5 (FIG. 1) and a chalk line 8 of a second desired color is wound on the spool 6 (FIG. 1). The first and second colors may be different. The housing 1 has an aperture 9 formed therethrough in the compartment 3 for passage of the chalk line 7 (FIG. 1). The housing 1 has an aperture 10 formed therethrough in the compartment 4 for passage of the chalk line 8 (FIG. 1).

A shaft 11 (FIG. 1) rotates the spools 5 and 6. Coupling devices are provided in the spools 5 and 6 for selectively coupling the shaft 11 to a desired one of the spools for separate rotation. The shaft 11 is axially slidable relative to the spools 5 and 6. The shaft 11 is locked in position by a spring-loaded ball 12 (FIG. 1). The shaft 11 is thus in correspondence with an annular groove 13 or an annular groove 14 axially spaced from the groove 13. The coupling devices comprise a pair of splines 15 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and. 16 (FIGS. 1 and 3) coaxially positioned with the shaft 11 and angularly displaced from each other in planes perpendicular to the axis 17 of the shaft (FIG. 1).

A handle 18 (FIG. 1) outside the housing 1 is coupled to the shaft 11 for rotating the spools 5 and 6.

While the invention has been described by means of a specific example and in the specific embodiment, we do not wish to be limited thereto, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A chalk line holder, comprising a housing having a partition dividing the housing into two compartments, the housing having an aperture formed therethrough in each compartment for passage of a corresponding chalk line;

a shaft;

a pair of susbstantially coaxially mounted spools each rotatably mounted on said shaft in a corresponding one of the compartments, said shaft being axially slidable relative to said spools;

chalk line of a first desired color wound on one of the spools;

chalk line of a second desired color wound on the other of the spools;

coupling means for selectively coupling the shaft to a desired one of the spools for separate rotation by said shaft, the coupling means comprising a spline connection for each of said spools, said spline connection being coaxially positioned with the shaft and angularly displaced from each other in planes perpendicular to the axis of the shaft whereby axial displacement of the shaft in a predetermined direction engages a corresponding one of the spline connections with a corresponding one of the spools for rotation of such spool; and] handle means outside the housing coupled to the shaft for manually rotating the spools. 

1. A chalk line holder, comprising A HOUSING HAVING A PARTITION DIVIDING THE HOUSING INTO TWO COMPARTMENTS, THE HOUSING HAVING AN APERTURE FORMED THERETHROUGH IN EACH COMPARTMENT FOR PASSAGE OF A CORRESPONDING CHALK LINE; A SHAFT; A PAIR OF SUSBSTANTIALLY COAXIALLY MOUNTED SPOOLS EACH ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT IN A CORRESPONDING ONE OF THE COMPARTMENTS, SAID SHAFT BEING AXIALLY SLIDABLE RELATIVE TO SAID SPOOLS; CHALK LINE OF A FIRST DESIRED COLOR WOUND ON ONE OF THE SPOOLS; CHALK LINE OF A SECOND DESIRED COLOR WOUND ON THE OTHER OF THE SPOOLS; COUPLING MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY COUPLING THE SHAFT TO A DESIRED ONE OF THE SPOOLS FOR SEPARATE ROTATION BY SAID SHAFT, THE COUPLING MEANS COMPRISING A SPLINE CONNECTION FOR EACH OF SAID SPOOLS, SAID SPLINE CONNECTION BEING COAXIALLY POSITIONED WITH THE SHAFT AND ANGULARLY DISPLACED FROM EACH OTHER IN PLANES PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF THE SHAFT WHEREBY AXIAL DISPLACEMENT OF THE SHAFT IN A PREDETERMINED DIRECTION ENGAGES A CORRESPONDING ONE OF THE SPLINE CONNECTIONS WITH A CORRESPONDING ONE OF THE SPOOLS FOR ROTATION OF SUCH SPOOL; AND HANDLE MEANS OUTSIDE THE HOUSING COUPLED TO THE SHAFT FOR MANUALLY ROTATING THE SPOOLS. 